Page 46 of The Fate of Black Hearts

The echo of a side door to the main sanctuary opening and shutting boomed through the empty space. The candles around the room flared brighter. A brunette woman in a dark overcoat with a long braid draped over one shoulder sauntered up the aisle. Her high-heeled boots clicked as she walked to the first pew. She removed her sunglasses to reveal eyes sopale they were almost white. With a wave, she gestured for Evie to sit next to her.

Was this her? She glanced up at the Madonna statue.

Impossible.

Her heart pounded a rapid beat inside her ears. She moved as if in a dream to sit beside the newcomer. The being didn’t smell human, nor like any nonhuman she’d encountered. In fact, the being had no smell. Her aura engendered a sense of calm, but nothing with nails that sharp in that shade of pink could be peaceful.

“You offer a unique skillset that intrigues me, Evie.”

“Are you her? Mary, mother of Jesus?”

“Yes.” The woman’s head swiveled to meet her gaze. In the power of those eyes, Evie found judgment, forgiveness, and determination all at once.

She bowed her head in deference to the celestial being. “How do I know it’s you and not some demon pretending to be you to take advantage of me?”

“Smart to be skeptical. You have encountered demons before. What did they make you feel?”

“Sadness. Despair.”

“Do you feel that now?”

“No, but that proves nothing. You might be more powerful and able to mask that part of you.”

“Then you must go on faith.” She held up her hands. “If you want to converse, then let us do so.”

I don’t believe in anything these days. Faith?

She put a hand around the pendant Dom had given her. “I did seek you out.”

“Excellent. You have been quite a bad girl in theway that you have hunted humans for many years. God is not pleased.”

“I only eliminated the worst ones. Most were terrorists or serial killers. There was one rapist who abused his wife, though.”

“Death appreciates your help to welcome those souls to hell. I’m sure Lucifer liked his recruits. If you indeed want to try to save your children, then perhaps we can come to an agreement.”

“What sort of agreement?”

“It doesn’t matter if God likes you or not. You’re not human and therefore have no option for admission into heaven. Obviously, God isn’t upset enough over your actions to end you, since you’re still alive. The Fates seem to have some sort of plan for you that I don’t quite understand. I propose that you work for me. I am unable to purge the horrendous souls who threaten and harm the children of the world whom I protect. I will identify to you the worst offenders. You will eliminate them.”

“You want me to assassinate child molesters and killers? You would help me find them?” Of course she would do this. Any monster that targeted the young deserved death.

Mary, the Madonna, grinned as if she’d heard her thoughts. The heat of her smile blasted her as if she were sitting in the sun on the beach on the most brilliant day in the middle of summer.

“That which is deep in your heart is why your sons have a clear sense of morality,” Mary said. “It is why I may be able to offer them a form of protection.” Her smile fell. “Nothing is free, as I am sure you are well aware.”

“How can you protect them?”

“I can assign each a guardian angel.” She crossed her jeans-clad legs. “I was put in charge of the archangels some time ago. Managing their daily minutia doesn’t interest me, but if I can use them for my cause as guardian to children, then this works for me.”

“A real angel? Like Gabriel or Micheal?”

“Yes. It may provide your sons with more protection against that which they fight and help each keep his soul intact. In exchange, you will swear your loyalty to me for the rest of your life. Neither our agreement nor their guardians are items to be discussed with others. It will be between you and me.”

“Can their curse be broken?”

“Not by God or any of us. We don’t have the power to supersede this kind of magic. I’m afraid it must be managed by those trapped in it.”

“Then I will do everything I can to protect them.” Evie got on her knees before the deity. “I swear fealty to you. At your direction, I agree to eliminate the evils that prey on young humans. In exchange, you will provide angelic protection for my children.”